There are many reasons why people seek asylum in the United States. One of the most important reasons why a person or family seeks asylum is for safety. The article defines an asylum seeker as, “one who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.” This review talks about the physical and psychological tortures that refugees go through in their home countries and how medical professionals help treat them.
When refugees first come into the United States they are granted with a certain amount of access once approved for asylum. This process can take up to months or years. After they have been approved, they are eligible for up to 8 months of healthcare. Western New York Center for Survivors of Torture and the University of Buffalo work closely together to provide forensic examination to those seeking asylum in order to document physical and psychological sequelae of torture to aid in asylum cases hearing.
These clinics offered to asylum seekers are student-run initiatives but the students are never responsible for conducting the health evaluations. There are real professional health care examiners who conduct the evaluations while students document the process. The significance of this student-run initiative is that it brings exponential support to people and families who are in need of asylum, and it also provides the necessary training for students in health care.
The value of medical students in support of asylum seekers in the United States. (2018). Families, Systems, & Health, 36(2), 230–232. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000326